Steinberg, who was honored by local politicians and others, has lived at the Grandell Nursing Center in Long Beach for nine years. She worked most of her life as a seamstress.

“I used to make children’s dresses,” she said.

In fact, 15 years ago, Steinberg made the dress she wore on Wednesday.

“Mazel tov on your birthday, and many more to come,” said nursing home director Baruch Giberstein.

For perspective, William McKinley was president of the United States when Steinberg was born. When the Wright Brothers flew, Steinberg was 3 years old. She was a teenager during World War I, and was 44 when World War II ended. And when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon in 1969, Steinberg was already on Social Security.

Steinberg came to the U.S. in 1923 and lived in Brooklyn. Her cake on Wednesday included a photo taken when she was 29.

“She still crochets and watches TV and reads the paper,” Teicher said.

To what does she attribute her long life?

“My children are so happy for me,” she said. “That’s my secret.”

Steinberg is said to be the ninth oldest person in the U.S. and the 14th oldest in the world.